One-on-one with Carson Kelly: Westview graduate is rising talent in St. Louis Cardinals' system

Updated Jun 10, 2013; Posted Jun 10, 2013

Pro scouts had their eyes on Carson Kelly long before his senior season at Westview, when he hit .388, drove in 26 runs and committed just three errors in 78 chances to lead the Wildcats to the state playoffs.

The Oregonian: It wasn't too long ago you were a high school student, waiting to find out where you would be drafted. Does that seem like forever ago, or has the past year gone by fast?

Carson Kelly: The year has gone extremely quick. As the 2013 draft approached, it reminded me how anxious I was last year, wondering when and where I would get picked. It was just an awesome feeling when it happened. It was one of the best emotional highs of my life -- a combination of anxiousness, anticipation, excitement and relief all wrapped into a day.

Kelly: The biggest adjustment has been playing every single day and acclimating myself with the speed of the game. The game speeds up as you advance in the system, and as players we want to slow it down.

Oregonian: What's your favorite thing about life as a pro?

Kelly: Getting the chance to travel around and play in many different parks and cities. Seeing new locations and experiencing different atmospheres is really cool.

In March, Carson Kelly got a taste of his dreams when he took the field and heard his name announced during a major league game. Well, actually, Joe Kelly's name was announced, but it really was Carson at third base.

Oregonian: Top moment of your career so far?

Kelly: My best moment was getting to play in a few major league games with the Cardinals during spring training. That gave me a taste of my dreams. My heart was racing as I was called to play, and when I stepped onto the field I was almost speechless. The energy rush, the bigness of the moment -- I got everything I had dreamed about as a kid, only this time it was real. I really noticed the small things and haven't stopped thinking about them since: the way the guys welcomed me, the words of advice, my uniform in the locker, even the gum and snacks were so very cool.

Kelly: I was very honored to receive comments like that from Mike Matheny. When I was playing in the big league games, he would come talk to me and ask how things were going. His passion for his players and for the game itself are things I expected, but his character and sincerity really stood out to me. Being compared with anyone who has played the game at a high level is such an honor, and it inspires me to get better and work even harder.

Oregonian: Did you have a favorite player growing up, or someone you modeled your game after?

Kelly: I never really had a favorite player. I took parts of several players' game and incorporated them into mine. If they had success doing it, then it might work for me -- that's what I was always thinking.

Oregonian: Leading up to the draft, some teams seemed more interested in you as a pitcher. Did the Cardinals view you strictly as a hitter, or did they let you make the call?

Kelly: At the beginning of the draft process, I was asked the same question: "Do you want to pitch or do you want to hit?" I always wanted to be a position player and hitter, and that's what I told everyone. When I was in front of the Cardinals, they saw me as a hitter.

Kelly routinely carved up opposing hitters during his days with the Wildcats. He could probably do the same to his current teammates, too, but he spares them the embarrassment.

Oregonian: Do you miss the mound at all?

Kelly: Every once in a while I get back up there for the fun of it before batting practice. But I don't want to carve up our guys during BP, so I usually stay away.

Oregonian: I'm putting you on the spot here: Who would you say is the "coolest" person you've met in the past year?

Kelly: It would be hard to narrow it down to one. The Cardinals and their "Cardinal Way" gives us an opportunity to be taught by so many great and successful players. I had the opportunity to meet Ozzie Smith, Willie McGee, Jose Oquendo and other Cardinals greats. The coolest person to me still playing on the Cardinals would be (center fielder) Jon Jay. Jon reached out to me as I was coming into camp this spring -- basically took me under his wing and informed me how the big leagues work. He still reaches out to me via text to see how things are going.

Oregonian: Who has been the biggest help when it comes to improving your game?

Kelly: Not any one person, but the whole Cardinals system. We learn the Cardinal Way as players; it's a system, a way of going about things. Going into camp, I came out each day with something new to work on. All the coaches were very supportive and have helped me bring my game to a new level.

Oregonian: Have you set a personal goal regarding when you expect to make it to the big leagues?

Kelly: I haven't set a specific time goal for getting to the big leagues. In the back of my mind that's where I want to be, but I know there is a long path to get there. By learning and developing each and every day, the results will take care of themselves. The process is what brings results. When I get there I want to stay for a very long time, be successful on and off the field, and contribute to a championship Cardinals team. More than doing it fast, I want to do it right.

The irony for Ducks fans who wanted Kelly to be like Michael Conforto? Kelly is now enrolled at Oregon State.

Kelly: It was a tough decision. I knew Coach Horton has the Ducks headed in the right direction, and being part of the program would have been an awesome experience. But once I made the decision, I never second-guessed myself for one minute. I have a strong faith and a strong family, and both help me deal with making tough decisions and then setting goals and sticking to the process to achieve them. You can't look back, and you have to be able to flush things. I still consider myself a Duck, and my dad texts me a WTD ("win the day") every day -- even though I am actually an Oregon State economics major online.

Kelly: I haven't really spent much of the signing bonus. I have invested it because this is a tough game and you never know what is going to happen. My dad showed me the ESPN documentary "Broke," and it had a big impact on me. I did contribute some money to Westview for some batting cage improvements. I was very happy to give back to a baseball community that gave me so much.

Oregonian: What's your top memory from your days at Westview?

Kelly: I miss all the friendly faculty and classmates. Also, going to school and playing with my brother Parker for one year. We're three years apart, and it was the first time we had gone to the same school. My top memory was when I got drafted -- I was presenting in my marketing class when I got the call. It was one crazy outburst and day after that.

The next Scott Rolen? If the scouts are right, being the first Carson Kelly should be good enough.

Oregonian: Did you follow the Wildcats this season?

Kelly: I followed a lot of their games through social media, family and friends. They had a really good season, winning the Metro but unfortunately falling short in the playoffs. Westview now has a great tradition of winning and a strong youth program; the next generation will have good chemistry coming up.

Kelly: My brother and I always talk; we are supportive and help drive each other. He is different, yet we are very much the same -- that makes our relationship a very cool one.

Oregonian: What's something (Westview coach) Steve Antich said that has stuck with you?

Kelly: He always would tell me to never get too high or too low -- meaning, when things are going well, continue to work, and when things are bad, don't sulk, but push through it. That lesson at a young age really helped me as I grew older.

Oregonian: What advice would you give anyone in the position you were in a year ago -- just drafted, having to decide between going pro or going to school?

Kelly: I would just tell them that whatever decision they make, don't look back. It is going to be a new experience and you have to embrace it. It's a great time in their lives, having the opportunity to play either college or professional baseball. There are some great baseball opportunities in Oregon now with top programs like Oregon, Oregon State and Linfield, run by my USA coachScott Brosius. At the same time, great players are developing through support networks like The Yard, Baseball Northwest, Mound Time and others. There are lots of folks in the Northwest to help you along the way.

Kelly: For me, I set a line in the sand on the amount of money versus the experience of going to play for the Ducks, and that was done long before the draft so that my decision was not made in the heat of the moment. Everything in baseball is a process -- that's the lesson my dad taught me, and it has helped with everything I have done in my life.

Kelly circa 2011. He'll always be a Portlander.

Oregonian: Do you plan to live in the Portland area during your offseasons? No matter where baseball takes you, do you think Portland will always be home?

Kelly: I do. Portland is where I grew up and I'm really happy and comfortable when I am back home in the Northwest. I like to hang out and work out with the local players and coaches in the offseason, and I feel I have a responsibility to represent that community out here. I often get supportive messages on twitter from kids, parents and former teammates in Oregon.

Oregonian: OK, I saved the most important question for last. When you were drafted by the Cardinals, it was reported that your dad and much of his family are Cubs fans. Have they come around yet?

Kelly: They are all really proud that I am a Cardinal and have been very happy and impressed with the organization and community support in Cardinal Nation. A few are making temporary exceptions, but the majority of them have turned my way. I know they still have their Cubs stuff boxed up in the closet, but they are wearing a lot of Cardinals red these days. I have family in both St. Louis and Chicago who come see me in Peoria on the weekends, and it's always interesting to see what they'll wear to the game.

My grandma called my dad right after I was drafted and asked if he could get the Cubs to trade Darwin Barney for me since we're both from Portland, so it might take a little while longer for some of them.